Steam-engine valve-gear



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. J. HEINDL.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

P' tent Mar. 12, 1889.

r NYEflT0R=- (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. J. HEINDL.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

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N. PETERs Phclo-Lilhognpher. wman m n. z;

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

1/ 1 W 2 l 2 2/ F M F W H AME (No Model.)

J. J. HEINDL.

STEAM ENGINE VALVE GEAR.

NTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J. HEINDL, OF BROOKLYN, i lUV YORK.

STEAM' ENGlNE VALVE-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,531, dated March12, 1889.

Application filed December 26, 1888. serial No. 294,592. (No model.

T0 aZZ "whom it 772 0.3 concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. HEINDL, of Brooklyn, Kings county, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Engine Valv .--(h*ars, of Which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying draw- 111gs.

My invention relates specially to the construction, arrangement, andadaptation ol :1 valve-gcar for three-cylinder engines, whereby they maybe operated without the use of eccentrics, and whereby an economicaladmission, distribution, and expansion of the steam may be effectedwhile passing through the cylinders to accomplish its work.

My improvements are specially adaptable l to three-cylimler or triplexpumps as a means for operating the three pumps at once and for effectinga higher movement of piston and rate of revolution. The special featuresof this improved gear consist in having a series of main-valve-operatinglevers attached directly at their shorter portions or ends to theseveral pistons and their longer ends to a vibrating fulcrum acting alsoas a support for said longer ends. To a bearing-pin formed in each ofsaid main-val.ve-operating levers is attached a connecting-rod operatinga triplecrank shaft, the cranks of said crankshaft being set at anglesof one hundred and twenty degrees to each other. Said triplecrank shaftwears in special bearings and carries fly-wheels for effectingregularity of motion. This triple-crank shaft is specially located outor apart from the center line of pistonrods, and in such position that aline drawn through the center of bearing-pin for connecting-rods andthrough the center of crankshaft shall not be parallel to the centerline of cylinder and rods to prevent the possibility of any two of thepistons or valves coming abreast of each other. The center lines ofmotion not being parallel to each other, the movements of cranks andpistons are not in exact unison, the cranks, for instance, having aportion of their upward or downward move ment still in progress whentheir associate pistons have passed to a reve se movement.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a erosssection throughone of the three cylinders, also a general mid-position arrange ment ofthe valve-operating mechanism. Fi 2 represents a longitmlinal elevationof a l thrcc-evlimlor engine with sectional portions of valvc-geardetails of the first and second cylinders and an outside elevation otthe third cylinder. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the three cylinderswith the immediate valve-stem connections shown in section and indetail. Figs. 4 and 5 represent details of the main valveoperatinglever,that in Flg. 4.

\ having the secondary lever attached and in place, as used foroperating the valves under ordinary practice, that in Fig. being withoutsuch secomlary lever, as used when steam is admitted beneath the valve,as through the exhaust-port instead of being admitted from the chest, asin ordinary practice. Figs. 6, T, and 8 are details of slide-valves invaried positions, that in Fig. 8 showing exhaust-port admission.

Similar letters of? reference designate like parts or portions in allthe figures.

The letter A designates the engine-cylinders and identified in Figs. 2and 3 by the letters A A A B design ates the piston, Fig. 1, and C thepiston-rods, the rods being identified by C U C".

c designates the piston-rod bosses, to which the main-valve-operatinglevers D are attached. These levers are identi lied by D D and Daccording to the cylinder to which they belong. The shorter portions ofthese levers D are attached to the bosses c of the piston-rods, whilethe longer portions are attached to and center on a vibratingfulcrumsupport, E, attached to and swinging upon a fixed center, F.

To a lever-pin or bearing, G, forming a part of the main-valve-operatinglevers D, is attached a connecting-rod, H, for the purpose of operatinga triple-crank shaft, 1, each crank controlling and being operated fromthe piston-rod of. each of the cylinders. To this same lex'enpin orbearing G is also attached a secondary lever, K, swinging upon andsupported by a suspension-rod, L, as a fulcrum. Attached to the shorterportion of lever K is the suspension and connecting rod N, communicatingthe motion of secondary lever K to valve-lever O. M and Q are fixedbrackets for supporting fulcrum-rods L and P. There are threefulcrum-rods P, one to each the shaft offulcruin-rocls P is attached aspecial lever, R, operated and adjusted by means of a turn-buckle, T,acting to lengthen or shorten rod-connection S, one end of which isfixed to hearing U.

V designates the valve-stems to each In Fig. 3, the plan view, it willbe noticed that the gear of cylinder A operates the valve of cylinder A,gear of cylinder A that of A, and gear of A that of A In-thc generaloperation of this gear the position of the piston and rod, through thelever-boss (2, together with the position of the crank-shaft andconnecting-rod, as also of the main-valve-operating lever I), as also,when used, of the secondary-valve-operating lever K, control theposition ot the several steamvalves, while the adjusting-rod S,lengthened or shortened by the turn-buckle T, together with the attachedlever R and fulcrum-sup- .port P, control the throw of the severalvalves.

In the sectional view, Fig. 1, the mid or central position of theseveral parts is shown in detail, while dotted center lines outline anddefine their extreme and'relative positions. Line a designates theextent of movement of piston-rod boss as well as the stroke of theseveral. pistons. 1;,1), and b designate the position of boss 0 and, theattached lever at extreme throw or position of pistons, also themid-position. b b and Z1 mark the positions of 0 center for the threecrank positions, as shown. (Z (Z and (1" are corresponding points ofposition of the lever-pin G. (l and (1 mark the positions of lever-pinG, corresponding to positions 6 and e of cranks. c c and c of crankpositions correspond with (1 d, and d of lever-pin G positions, and of bb and b of 0 center. of piston-rod boss. Now lever K, when used, movesat its outer end to 71 7L3, and 71*, corresponding to positions (1 d,and d of lever-pin G center. \Vith positions 713, 71 and 7&4 lever 0moves, through the communication of rod N, to positions f, f and f, andthe opposite end of lever O, communicating with valve-stem V, moves topositions g g and g, and the valves have positions I1 [133, and 1;", allthese several positions corresponding with positions e c and e of theseveral cranks. All these several positions, as well as those betweenthem, are occupied by the several valves, levers, connections, andcranks, according as they move through their travel, and the. pistonsmove up and down or to and fro through the cylinder. Now to vary thethrow of the valves, making such throw longer or shorter, as may berequired, the turn-buckle or nut T is operated to lengthen or shortenthe connection S, the end bearing, U, being fixed, thereby raising orlowering lever R on an are, m 'm, and the vibrating fulcrum P on the are77 n to or from the valve-stem V, resulting in the proportionatelengthening or shortening of the throw of the valve. As the vibratingfulcrum P moves from the valve-stem, it lengthens the distance betweenthe center P and the center of valvestem V. The fulcrum P is of courseonly moved to and fro by the adjustment in the length of S, and onlywhen it is required to lengtl'ien or shorten the throw of valve \V. Asshown by section in Fig. 3, the valve-operating mechanism of each engineoperates the valves of some other one of the three engines, andpreferably of that engine whose crank follows immediately after its owncrank in the circle of revolution. Thus the valve-moving mechanismoperated from crank-pin 6 moves the valves of the cylinder A operatingon crankpin e the mechanisn'l operated from crankpin e" moves the valvesof cylinder operating on crank-pin e, and that from crank 6" movesvalves of cylinder E operating on crank 2 steam being admitted throughthe chest by the opening of the outer edges of the main valve and ports,after the well-known and usual manner. Should, however, some of the newforms of valves admitting steam through the exhaust-passage, instead ofthrough the chest, be used, the valve would of course move in anopposite direction to that admitting steam direct from inclosing-chest.Then the secondary lever K would not be necessary and would be omit-ted,and connection N take direct hold of the main-valve-operating lever D,as shown in Fig. 5, at points or positions 7L2 h h of saidvalve-operating lever. The valve shown in Fig. 8 has the central steamadmission used in connection with the lever of Fig. 5that is, the steamis admitted to the cylinder through exhaust-passage instead of throughthe chest, after the manner of some piston-valves now in use. Apuppet-valve may of course take the place of the slide-valve V and bemoved up and down by the stem V, the principal detail changes being inthe shape of valves themselves.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is g 1. Ina three-cylinder engine, in combina tion with the piston-rod of any oneof the said cylinders, a main-valve-operating lever connected to andoperated by said piston-rod and swinging upon a vibrating fulcrum, apitman or connecting-rod joining said mainvalve-operating lever with oneof the crankpins of a triple-crank shaft, a secondary'le ver connectedto and operated by said main operating-lever, a vibrating fulcrumsupporting said secondary lever, apitman or connection between saidsecondary lever and a valve operating lever, and a connecting Valve-stemand valve of a second cylinder of the set of three, substantially assetforth.

2. In a three-cylinder engine, in combination with the pistoirrod of anyof the said cylinders, a 1nain-valve-operating lever connected to andoperated by said piston-rod and swinging upon avibrating fulcrum, apitman or ctmnecting-rod joining said main-valveopera-tin g lever withone of the crank-pins of a 1 ri pl e-crank shatt,'a secondary lever eonneeted to and operated by said main-valve-operat in g lever, a vibratingfulcrum supporting said secondary lever, a pitman or connecting-rodjoinin said secondarylever to a slotted-valve operating lever, avibrating fulcrum or support for said slotted-valve-operatinglever, andmeans for adjusting the position of said fulcrunrsupport, and avalve-stem and valve of a second cylinder of the set of three connectedto and operated by said slotted-valve-operating lever, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

3. A valve-adjusting mechanism for steamcylinder steam-chests,consisting of a slotted lever attached directly to the valve-stem, avibrating fulcrumsupport for said slotted lever made adjustable to orfrom the valvestem to lengthen or shorten the throw of valve, anadjusting-arm or lever operating through a rock-shaft, to which both thevibrating fulcrum-support and the adjusting-arm are attached, a fixedbearing for the support of said rock-shaft, an d a turn-buckle rodadapted to be lengthened or shortened, one end of said turn-lmckle rodbeing attached to said adjust ing-arm and the other to a fixed center orswing support, substantially as set forth.

4. In a threeevlinder engine, in combination with the piston-rod of anyone of said cylinders, a mainvalve-operating lever connected to andoperated by said piston-rod and swinging upon a vibrating fulcrum, apitman or conneeting-rod joining said. main operating-lever with on e ofthe crank-pi us of a tripleerank shat t, a rod connecting said main-valveoperating lever directly with the valve-lever, the valve-leveroperating upon a vibrating support, and the connected valve andvalvestem of a second cylinder of the set of three, substantially as setforth.

5. In a three-cylinder engine, in combination with the piston-rod of anyone of said cylinders, a n1ain-valve-operating lever attached to andoperated by said piston-rod and swinging upon a vibrating fulcrum, apitman or connecting-rod joining said mainvalve-operating lever with oneof the crankpins of a triple-crank shaft, a connecting-rod directlyattached to and operated by said main operating-lever and communicatingmotion to and operating a slotted-valve lever, a vibratingfulcrum-support for said slottedvalve lever, and means or mechanism foradjusting the position of said fulcrum or support to effect a longer orshorter throw of valve, and a valve-stem and valve of a second cylinderof the set of three connected to and operated by said slot-ted lever,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

0. In a thrce-cylinder-engine, the combination of the piston-rods ofsaid engine, mainvalve-operatiug levers connected directly to saidpiston-rods and swinging upon a vibrating fulcrum, connecting-rodsjoining said levers to the cranks of a triple-crank shaft, saidcrankshaft bein placed in such position that the center line of motionof said connectingrods shall not be parallel with the center line ofmotion of the said piston-rods, whereby the movements of the cranks,valves, and pisston-rods are never in exact unison with each other,substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH J. HEINDL.

\Vitnesses:

W11. H. WEIGHTMAN, )[ANUEL RODRIGUEZ.

